To prevent the Maoist menace getting closer to the state capital and rein-in their activities, the Chhattisgarh government has created a new police district at Gariyaband, about 75 km from Raipur.
The state home department issued a notification declaring Gariyaband as a police district, which has six police stations and another five have been sanctioned. The police chowkies would be upgraded.
After the arrest of a hardcore Maoist Gopanna along with his two accomplices three years ago at Gariyaband, the state police conveyed its concern to the state government about the increased presence and movement of rebels in the area. Gopanna carried a reward of Rs 5 lakh on his head.
"We were frequently getting inputs about the activities of Maoists who had raised their armed cadres and informers. Their visibility often reported and even the police unearth the rebel's training camp in the area", a top police officer in Raipur told Hindustan Times.
"The decision has come at a very appropriate time that can effectively hit their network and prevent them moving closer to the capital".
{{/usCountry}}"The decision has come at a very appropriate time that can effectively hit their network and prevent them moving closer to the capital".
{{/usCountry}}The state has posted a superintendent of police Kamal Lochan Kashyap who will incharge of the police district to ensure effective control on the Maoists menace and law & order situation.
According to inspector general of police (operations) Rajesh Mishra the decision will curb the rising influence of Maoists in the area and restrain them from moving towards the capital region.
"A new police district will cater to security as well as development needs of the area", Mishra told HT.
There are other two police districts in north Chhattisgarh's Sarguja zone where the state government claimed it had succeeded to rein-in the activities of the red-guerillas.